Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-04-15
R0SEBURG REVIEW
FRIDAY. APRIL, Is. 1887.
COMMUNICATIONS.
WASHINGTON, March 2Sth, 1887.

other brilliant feather IN the cap OF
this Administration. Probably no
Democrat, not even Samuel j. Tilden
while living ever received such un-
stin.cd praise from the Republican
press as has been showered upon him
during the past week Nothing has
been done by any member of Mr.
Cleveland's Cabinet since it was or
ganized more calculated to win popu-
larity than is the act of the Secretary
of the Navy by which the work of for
tlfying our seaports and building iron
clads is established on solid founda-
ton
From every side his energy and sag
acity is applauded, the work he has
done to beguile bidders to accept Of
fered terms, and the ability he exhib-
its in directing the general work OF
his Department. 1t really looks too
as if the name Of Mr.. Whitney would
be associated in history with the build
ing OF the American Navy. The re-
sponse to him was SO prompt that the
work of fitting up the Washington
Navy Yard as an ordinance factory
for the assembling and completion of
heavy guns and steel forsings, will be
begun soon and rapidly carried for
ward. Needless delays can be avoided
because it is shown that the gun for5'
ings and armor plates can be furnished
in a much shorter time than was sup
posed.
For more than eighteen months Sec
retary Whitney has been industliously
devising the means that make success
possible. He has been studying the
conditions of the problem -detcrmln-
ing the needs of defensive armor gaug
ing the impact of projectiles, fixing on
tests by which the Department will be
governed, and making the induce
ments as attractive as possible.
Since all the Iron foundries of the
county are pressed with unfulfilled
engagements for months ahead, at high
prices, some surprise was expressed
that there should hove been a single
bid for the millions of dollars worth oi
work that was proposed. But the
proprietor of TIE Bethlehem company
foresaw that tue boom wonld not last
and that it would pay to work fo1
Uncle Sam even on more reasonable
terms, because his job would last for
decade or so, both summer and winter
ard his pay is sure.
1t is to'be hoped that there will b
no more lamentations for the presen
over the failure of the Naval bills. A
least Secretary Whitney is satisfie
with the outlook. lie says the prol
lem which puzzled everybody is solve
and that the work Of fortifying coast
and equiping ships is in just as goo
shape as it would have been if the Sen
ate bills had become laws.
Since I wrote you the long dis
cussed Interstate Commerce Commis
sion has been completed, announced
commented upon, approved-and nov
it is about to organize and go to work
The five lawers composing it, and VIII
represent the States Of Alabama, Ill
nois, Michigan, New York and Vel
mont, are practically placed in charg
of private property valued at abou
seven thousand dollars. This tremer
dous responsibility is greatly increase
when it is remembered that almos
the entire internal commerce of th
country is affected by the action
this new court.
No one doubts the honesty of tn
members of the Commission, and the
are all conceded to be men Of ability
but their labors will be complex an
comprehensive, the new law is a vas
problem; every feature at its opera
tions more or less perilous, and what
ever is done, the Commission will b
criticised and opposed Oh every side
Tho railroad men, shippers and travel
ers, producers and consumers are wait
ing to pour complaints, queries, com
munications and requests by the thou
sand upon the Commissioners as sool
as they are ready to receive them, an'
viii! make their lives burdensome, o
course.
Tne effect of the new law upon thi
city will be pronounced. Practical
it gives the Capitol new Governmen
Department. A large and importan
bureau will be organized at once,
large clerical and official force will |
appointed by the Commission, leg
and other representatives of all I'll
railroads in the United States will |
drawn here, besides thousands of PEI
pie interested in questions brought b
fore the Commission. Altogethe"
viii add greatly to the activity of I'll
coming summer in Washington.
4 couple of visitors from rural dl
trict in the House gallery were tryia
to Pick out their member on the foo
UI can't 1istinnuiSh him !" said IN